Info
| Explore | Outside of school we have learned that plants need fertile soil, a good source of water and carbon dioxide, and light in order to survive. In class we learned that plants use photosynthesis to create an energy source for themselves known as glucose. The equation for photosynthesis is... |
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| Research Question | How does temperature affect photosynthesis? We came up with this question because we have studied elodea with different levels of light and CO2. With this experiment we were most interested to see how temperature (another environmental factor) affected the amount of photosynthesis over time in an... |
| Predictions | There are three possible outcomes of this experiment: the highest amount of photosynthesis could be from the low temperatures in the refrigerator, high temperatures from the heat lamp, or room temperature from being in the classroom. We predict that the elodea plant with the heat lamp will have... |
| Experimental Design | For our first experiment, we wanted to use bromothymol blue as our pH indicator to determine how much photosynthesis took place. We measured levels of pH so that we could determine which temperature was ideal for photosynthesis. We kept baking soda constant so that we could give all of our... |
| Conclusion | Unfortunately our first experiment displayed inconclusive results. However, after redesigning some aspects of our experiment, we were able to conclude that hotter temperatures produce a higher amount of the complete reaction of photosynthesis. A possible explanation for this result is because... |
| About this Project | This project deserves consideration for a Star Project award due to the group's exceptional determination and resilience in the face of initial setbacks. Despite obtaining no results in the first iteration of their experiment, the team reevaluated their approach and realized they could measure pH... |
Updates
Hello!
This past week we spent some time coming up with an idea for our research experiment and filled in the boxes of what we decided on so far. If it’s not a problem, do you mind giving us some feedback on our experiment from the stuff we have written down? We would love some input!
Hi! Here’s a little update:
1) In class the past few days, we have learned how to construct a leaf disk lab to prove how the addition of carbon dioxide affects the efficiency of photosynthesis. We did this by having three different cups of water with different addition of substances. One with the addition of baking soda, one with the addition of human breath and one with just the water. As these were all placed under lights, the two solutions with carbon dioxide allowed for the floating of the leaf disks over a ten minute period. This proved that carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis to take place and helped our class understand the concept.
Also, we have some questions:
2) What do you do specifically with plants and the evolution of how plants grow? How long have you been studying plants? What experiments were the hardest for you to prove a theory?
Thanks!
Hello Brynna,
Those are good questions!
My research is not so much about the evolution of plants, but more about how they work- their physiology. But perhaps your other mentors may be able to answer this question better. Most evolutionary studies on plants are studies on how they adapt to a new or changing habitat, how their genes change during evolution, and how they emerge as a new species in time.
I have been studying plants since 1978 when I started my undergraduate work. So it has been long 45 years.
We only work with testing hypotheses, and not proving a scientific theory. A scientific theory only emerges after a very long time and after tons of data have supported the hypothesis. When a hypothesis has been supported by multiple data across the world, and it is no longer an ambiguity, it becomes a scientific theory. The word "theory" in English is thus very different from the word "theory" in science.
So we all mostly work towards finding data to support our hypothesis.
The hardest experiment for me was with an enzyme called cholesterol oxidase. This enzyme likes water (hydrophilic), and the chemical it works on -cholesterol- does not like water (hydrophobic). I had a tough time bringing them together.
Hello students,
I am an Associate Professor of Biology at Elizabeth City State University in northeastern NC. I teach undergrads courses in General Botany, Molecular Biology, and Applied Stats. My undergrads do research in plant tissue culture (take a part of a plant and get a complete plant). They also introduce different genes in plants (transformation). It is great to work with you this semester. Please fill in the Info at the top (e.g., the Research Question and Experimental Design) so that we can understand your experiment.
Answering one of the questions below: One of our undergrad research is to get the cotyledons of Wisconsin Fast Plants to produce a new plant (we are converting one type of cell to another type of cell). We use plant hormones to do this. This has proven difficult as we are still figuring out the exact concentrations of these hormones, and also the age of the cotyledons that work the best.
Hello!
I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Juju. My favorite subject in school is currently biology but I would say my favorites would have to be anatomy and psychology. I love to binge watch tv series, read, and go on drives. My favorite plant would have to be a rose. Currently, I know a little about plants however I am fascinated by the type of plants that thrive in the dark and would love to learn more about them.
Hello everyone!
It is great to hear from everyone, especially the students.
I am serving as a liaison here. I will be helping all of you with your issues and problems.
I am a Botanist and serve as a Professor of Biology at the University of South Carolina Sumter. I love plants! My research is on environmental stress, pathogenic interaction, and other stresses on plant ultrastructure and physiology. I am also a dedicated gardener. I am trying to switch to a plant-based diet as well, and am in the process of learning more about the phytochemicals present in old traditional herbal medications.
I wish all of you a very successful project!
Hi my name is Cece. In school my favorite subject is science and currently biology. I enjoy playing lacrosse and tennis outside of school. Another hobby of mine is concocting new recipes to make dinner. My favorite plant is a tomato plant. Currently I know very little about plants but am excited to learn more.
Hi! My name is Brynna. My favorite subject in school is science, specifically chemistry. I enjoy playing lacrosse, tennis, weightlifting, baking, and reading. I like listening to rap music, specifically Drake, and watching the bachelor series. I am a proud owner of fourteen plants in my room; my favorite being the hedgehog aloe plant. I know quite basic knowledge about plants and plant cell, and mostly just how to take care of them successfully as house plants.